Automatic train-pipe coupling for air-brakes.



No. 759,784. 'PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

- R. J. WEKEN.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING FOR AIR BRAKES.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 28, 1904.

NO MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fri 1.

:l 2 l/ i 4 1 8 a 5 I -12 1Z- 15 /1 2, 4! y W 5 'I I?! i mxm a' InventorWitnesses CI CYWWKUZ' BY Attorney No. 759,784. PATBNTED MAY 10, 1904.

I R. J. WEKEN.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING FOR AIR BRAKES.

APPLICIATION FILED JAN. 28, 1904.

no MODEL.- 2 nnsnraqsnnm 2.

Inventor W'itnesses- J MM UNITED STATES ratentecl May 10, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD J. \VEKEN, OF EVERETT, l/VASHINGTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,784, dated May 10,1904.

Application filed January 23, 1904. S a N 191,044. (No model.)

To (.LZZ whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Riel-mail) J. VVEKEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Everett, in the county of Snohomish and State ofWashington, have invented certain new and, useful Improvements inAutomatic Train-Pipe Couplings for AirBrakes; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic train-pipe couplingsfor air-brakes.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of this characterwhich will be simple in construction, durable in use, eliicient inoperation, and comparatively inexpensive of production.

with this and other objects in view the in vention consists of certainnovel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimproved pipe-coupling apparatus in its coupled position on the adjacentends of two rail way-cars. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalview, on an enlarged scale, of the coupling apparatus on one end of acar. Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the pipe-coupling heads or members.Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one of the front hangers for the couplingapparatus. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the rearhangers for thecoupling apparatus. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a modified form ofcoupling head or member.

Referring to the drawings by numeral, 1 and 2 denote adjacent endportions of the bot tom frames of two railway-cars, upon the under sideof each of which my improved trainpipe, coupling apparatus 3 issuspended centrally and at an equal distance from the track. Since theapparatus 3 on both cars is identical in construction and operation, Iwill describe but one.

Suspended by means of hangers 4 and 5 beneath the central bumper of thecar or beneath the car-coupler and its draw-bar is a longitudinal bar 6,having at its outer end a coupling head or member 7, which is adapted tobe engaged by the similar head or member on the adjacent end of theadjoining car. Each of said hangers 4 and 5 comprises a stationarymember 8 in the form of a Y-shaped casting and a suspending member 9.The arms 10 of said castings, which preferably straddle the draw-bar ofthe car-coupler, as seen in Fig. 5, are formed with slots 11, throughwhich bolts are passed to secure the castings to the ear-bottom frameand to permit them to be adjusted transversely or horizontally. Thesuspending member 9 of the rear hanger 4 has its lower enlarged endformed with a polygonal opening 12, which is preferably square and ofsuiiicient size to permit the longitudinal cou ling-bar 6 to slidefreely therein. The upper portion of said member 9 of the hanger 4 isformed with a long slot 14, through which and the depending portion 15of the said casting 4 bolts, screws, or the like 16 are passed to securesaid member to the casting and to permit it to be adjusted verticallyupon the same. In order to strengthen the hanger 4, I provide diagonalbrace-rods 13, which extend from the lower end of its member 9 to thecasting 8 of the other hanger 5, as shown. The suspending member 9 ofthe front hanger 5 has its upper end pivoted, as at 17, to the dependingportion 15 of its casting 8 to permit it to swing transversely. Thelower portion of the said member 9 is formed with an elongated openingor slot 18, the width of which is equal to that of the longitudinal bar6, so that the latter may slide longitudinally and be adjustedvertically. To support the bar 6 at the desired elevation in saidopening 18, I provide an adjustable clip or clamp 19, upon which saidbar rests. Said clip preferably comprises two plates 20, placed uponopposite sides of the said members 9 and connected at their centers by abolt or screw 21, which binds them upon said member. In order to holdsaid member 9 of the hanger 5 normally in a vertical or perpendicularposition, I secure one end of a flat spring 22 to the upper end of saidmember 9 and its other end to the casting 8, as shown in Fig. 5. The bar6 is mounted in the hangers and is adapted to slide longitudinally, asprevionslystated. At its inner end is a fixed head or collar 23,whichserves as a stop to limit its outward movement under the action of astiff spring 24,coiled about the same and confined between the rearhanger 4 and a cross-pin 25, as shown. The outer end of said bar isreduced and screw-threaded to screw into a screw-threaded socket 26,formed at the rear end of the coupling head or member 7. The saidcoupling 7, which is preferably a hollow casting, as shown, has itsouter end beveled or inclined, as at 27, and formed with an opening 28,surrounded by a gasket or ring 29, of rubber or the like. The couplings7, upon the adjacent ends of two cars, have their outer faces or ends inbeveled opposite directions, so as to coact with each other and permittheir gaskets 29 to contact and effect an air-tight connection betweenthe couplings. In order to guide the two coupling-heads into properengagement with each other when they are brought together and are not inaxial alinement, I provide them with forwardly and. outwardly projectingfingers 30, and in order to retain them in their coupled position Iprovide the outer end of the beveled face of each coupling with a curvedlip 31, which is adapted to hook under a projection 32 upon the innerend of a forwardly and outwardly projecting spring 33, secured to thecoupling adjacent to the inner end of its beveled face, as shown. Eachcoupling 7 has an angularlyprojecting tube or connection 34, to whichthe flexible hose of the train-pipeis connected.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: When two cars equippedwith my irnproved couplings 7 are brought together, the beveled orinclined faces of the same will be forced tightly together against thetension of the springs 24, which normally hold said couplings 7 outslightly beyond the car-couplers. Should the couplings 7 upon the twocars be out of axial alinement, their beveled faces or ends and theguide-fingers 30 will guide them properly until the projections 32 onthe springs 33 spring over the lips 31, as will be readily understood.Owing to the manner in which the bars 6 are mounted, the couplings whenengaged may swing laterally as the cars move around a curve, and theyalso have a slight vertical movement to allow for the vertical movementof the cars in passing over uneven places and in running up and downhill, the clips or clamps 19 on the front hangers being preferably soadjusted that the front ends of the bars 6 and their couplings 7 hangdown somewhat when they are uncoupled. I/Vhen the cars separate, thecouplings also separate, the lips 31 slipping from under the projections32 on the springs 33, and the springs 24 forcing the couplingsoutwardly.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings I have shown a hook 35 upon the lip 31 toengage and hold the well-known form of train-pipecoupling now in generaluse, should it be desired to attach one to my improved coupling.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a coupling for train-pipes, the combination oflaterally-adjustable hangers, a sliding bar mounted in said hangers andhaving a coupling head or member at one end, and means for adjustingsaid bar vertically in said hangers, substantially as described.

2. In acoupling for train-pipes, the combination of a rear hanger, afront hanger com prising a stationary member and a suspending memberpivotally secured to said stationary member, a longitudinal barslidablymounted in said rear hanger and ,said suspending member of the fronthanger, and a coupling-head upon said bar,- substantially as described.

3. In a coupling for train-pipes, the combination of a rear hanger, afront hanger comprising a stationary member, a pivotallymountedsuspending member and a spring for holding said suspending member in aperpendicular position, a longitudinal bar slidably mounted in said rearhanger and said suspending member of the front hanger, and acoupling-head upon said bar, substantially as described.

4. In a coupling for train-pipes, the combination of a rear hangercomprising a laterally-adjustable stationary member and avertically-adjustable suspending member, a front hanger comprising alaterally-adjustable stationary member, a pivotally-mounted suspendingmember and a spring for holding said suspending member in aperpendicular posi tion, a longitudinal bar slidably mounted in the saidsuspending members of said hangers, a clamp for adjusting said bar inthe suspending member of the front hanger, and a coupling member uponthe front end'of said bar, substantially as described.

5. In a coupling for train-pipes, the combination of suitable hangers, alongitudinal bar slidably mounted in said hangers and a coupling head ormember upon said bar having a beveled or inclined outer end or faceformed with an opening, a lip upon the outer end of said face and aspring upon the inner end of said face provided with a projectingportion, substantially as described.

6. In a coupling for train-pipes, the combiupon said spring, andguide-fingers upon said nation of suitable hangers, aslidably-rnounthead, substantially as described. ed longitudinal bar insaid hangers, and a In testimony whereof I have hereunto set couplinghead or member upon said bar cornmy hand in presence of two subscribingWit- 5 prising a hollow casting {orrned Withdan alpernesses.

turec beve ed outer enc or face an a 1086 w 7 -1- connection, a gasketsurrounding the aper RHHARD VVEIXLN' ture in said beveled face, a lipupon the outer Witnesses: end of said. beveled face, a spring upon theH. L. OLDFIELD, IO inner end of said beveled face, a projection E. A.STRONG.

